Chapter 2356 — Making a Decision

That place.

The face of Ancestor Xuan Chen was somewhat somber as he watched the figure on the sickbed before him—Tagan Long, eyes tightly shut, utterly motionless—his mood tangled and irritable beyond measure.

"Master!" A voice broke the stillness.

"Xiao Yi, you're back." Ancestor Xuan Chen lifted his head and asked mildly, "How did the matter go?"

"Preparations for the contingency plan are already underway. I have sent word to the Heaven, Earth, and Human divisions of the Xuandan Sect and had the trial rules altered." Xiao Yi spoke steadily. "As for the hidden Yu family, I have also passed Master's intentions on to Yu Tianxing."

"Good." Ancestor Xuan Chen nodded. "Once the contingency plan is set in motion, it will consume a great deal of energy and manpower—and success is not even guaranteed... Any word on the culprit who wounded Tagan Long?"

"It is certain it was not Zhang Nai Pao!" Xiao Yi said. "First, the Tomorrow and Tomorrow sect has no reason to lie to us—ours is a cooperative relationship. Second, Zhang Nai Pao's internal-energy method is not built around inflicting injury, but around absorbing true qi!"

"Never mind. Set that aside for now." Ancestor Xuan Chen knew well that finding the culprit was unlikely—especially with no notion of which nation the man belonged to, which made it all the harder. So he went on, "All our focus of late must be on the contingency plan!"

"And as for healing Tagan Long, shall we..." Xiao Yi began.

"His injuries are too severe. Even a third-grade pill would be useless. For the time being there is nothing to be done—once your senior martial uncle emerges from seclusion, I will work out a solution with him!" said Ancestor Xuan Chen.

"Yes, Master!" Xiao Yi nodded... Zhao Qibing had never imagined he would receive a call from Han Xiaohu.

Yet seeing Han Xiaohu's incoming call, he dared not fail to answer. He had just offended Wei Zhao today—who knew whether this call from Han Xiaohu might not be on Wei Zhao's behalf? So Zhao Qibing did not dare show the slightest negligence, and answered cautiously: "Young Master Po, what makes you think of calling me?"

"Young Master Bing, have you got time? Come out for a cup of coffee, have a chat?" Han Xiaohu asked, straight to the point.

"This... Young Master Po, it's rather late—is something the matter?" Zhao Qibing was taken aback. He had no idea what Han Xiaohu wanted with him, but it certainly was not the idle whim of a bored man treating him to coffee.

"You'll know what it's about when you get here. Just a few things concerning the Xuandan Sect trial that I'd like to discuss." Han Xiaohu said. "Of course, this is on Wei Zhao's initiative."

"Oh, good. Name the place, then. I'll head over now!" Hearing Han Xiaohu's words, Zhao Qibing breathed a sigh of relief—so long as they were not coming after him, all was well. As for discussing the Xuandan Sect trial, that was no problem. Zhao Qibing knew Wei Zhao had taken part in the Ice Palace trial and passed it smoothly, so it was only natural that Wei Zhao should take an interest in the Xuandan Sect trial.

But the hidden Han family had never once taken part in a Xuandan Sect trial, so naturally they would have to consult their hidden Zhao family for information.

In truth, Zhao Qibing had not taken part either. But since he was to send Zhao Qilei over, he had made a point of consulting Zhao Guangyin and Old Bi a few days earlier about the Xuandan Sect trial—so when it came to answering Han Xiaohu's and Wei Zhao's questions, he was fully confident.

"Very well then. In half an hour, the Xuanliang Café on the commercial street," said Han Xiaohu.

"No problem," Zhao Qibing answered.

He hung up, said a word to his grandfather, and turned to leave the hidden Zhao family compound. As for Zhao Qibing going to meet Han Xiaohu, the old master Zhao had no objection whatsoever; at a time like this, one did not offend Han Xiaohu and Wei Zhao if one could help it.

At least, the hidden Zhao family had no confidence in dealing with Wei Zhao for the moment. Nor did he know what the hidden Yu family was thinking—but in any case, old master Zhao would not be the one to provoke Wei Zhao of his own accord, not unless he held certain victory.

Half an hour later, at the entrance of the Xuanliang Café on the commercial street, Zhao Qibing spotted Han Xiaohu's Mercedes-Benz S600. Zhao Qibing himself drove a different car, a Porsche Cayenne, also newly bought—the previous one had been given to Wei Zhao.

"Young Master Po, sorry to keep you waiting!" On the surface, Zhao Qibing played his part well.

"I only just arrived myself. After you, Young Master Bing," Han Xiaohu said, nodding to him.

The two entered the café, and a waiter came up to greet them. No one here knew these two young masters of the hidden Han and hidden Zhao families, but judging by the Mercedes and the Porsche they drove, they were plainly no ordinary customers—so the waiter dared not be remiss.

"A private room," Han Xiaohu told the waiter.

"Certainly. This way, gentlemen..." The waiter arranged a private room for Han Xiaohu and Zhao Qibing.

Han Xiaohu ordered a few things at random, then handed the menu to Zhao Qibing.

"The same as him will do." Zhao Qibing had not come here for the coffee; what he drank was of no concern to him.

The waiter promptly brought their drinks as ordered. Once the waiter had withdrawn, Han Xiaohu came straight to the point: "Young Master Bing, I've come this time at the leader's bidding. Two matters—one concerning the Xuandan Sect trial, and one concerning Zhao Qilei."

"Zhao Qilei?" Zhao Qibing's gaze sharpened. He had not expected Han Xiaohu to raise this out of the blue—but then he reflected that Zhao Qilei's relationship with Wei Zhao had already been exposed, and that when Wei Zhao questioned him after the car crash, his own panicked expression had probably let Wei Zhao guess something...

"That's right. Does Young Master Bing know where he is now? I wanted to look him up for old times' sake, but I haven't been able to reach him at all," Han Xiaohu said with a nod.

"This... Young Master Po, the matter of Qitan involves some family affairs of ours. Whether I may speak of it is not mine to decide. How about this—I'll step out and call my grandfather to ask, then get back to you?" Zhao Qibing thought it over and said outright.

"That's fine!" Han Xiaohu answered readily.

Zhao Qibing nodded and gave him a grateful smile, then turned and left the private room. Reaching the end of the corridor, he quickly dialed his grandfather's number.

"Qibing, how goes it? Did you see Han Xiaohu? What did he want with you?" Old master Zhao, seeing it was Zhao Qibing calling, picked up at once and asked.

"Grandfather, Han Xiaohu asked me about Zhao Qilei," Zhao Qibing said quickly and directly. "He says he's been looking for Zhao Qilei for old times' sake but can't find him, and he's asking me where Zhao Qilei has gone. How should I answer?"RQ